Should I shave my Husky in summer

Can you shave a Husky? No! Heres why

When asking yourself if you can shave your Husky the answer is a clear and definitive NO. You should never, ever shave or clip your Huskys fur. His double-coated fur has an important role and its there for a couple of good reasons.

Contrary to what some dog groomers or even vets say, a Husky or an Alaskan Malamute should never be shaved unless were talking about a serious medical procedure. People who say otherwise, regardless of their specialization, should be ignored.

All this being said, grooming is a must. You should brush your Huskys fur often, thats the only way you can avoid having hair all over the place and really help him stay cool in the summer and hot in the winter. Get a brush for double coats for your husky.

Why you should NEVER shave a Husky?

Dogs do not sweat like humans. A dog cools itself by panting from the mouth, sweating at the paws and through the blood in its pretty ears. So if you think about shaving your Husky in order to cool him, you are not helping.

Siberian Huskys have almost no pigmentation in their skin. So when you shave him, you expose his sensitive skin to the sun. Once the skin is exposed your Husky is vulnerable to a series of skin diseases, including skin cancer. This is not a joke, and it should be taken very seriously.

Your Huskys fur acts as a protective coat against different insects and parasites. Also, once shaved the topcoat and the bottom coat of his fur might not grow well and blend properly. Youre practically hurting him permanently.

The double coat. What is the anatomy of a properly Groomed Husky double coat?

As you might have guessed, the double coat is composed of two parts: the topcoat and the undercoat. Both of them are working together to provide exactly the thing your Husky needs: protection + warmth/cooling (based on the season).

About the Husky Topcoat

These are the visibly longer hairs from your Huskys fur. They repel dirt, water, sun rays, and even insects and other parasites. These longer hairs are called guard hairs by some people.

About the Husky Undercoat

This is the shorter and softer hairs, that are pretty well hidden beneath the topcoat. This layer of coat is extremely important as it has the active role of protecting the Siberian Husky in extreme temperatures both on hot days and on cold days.

How does it all work?

The below image illustrates how air travels during hot and cold days, inside your Huskys coat. I must say, that their fur is definitely fascinating by how well it manages to help the dog deal with extreme temperatures.

The natural layout of the double coat acts as an insulator during the winter and extreme cold periods by preventing the buildup of snow and ice against the skin of your Husky. This helps him avoid frostbite and hypothermia.

When things get hot, during the summer, the undercoat will naturally undergo a few shedding cycles. In this period, the undercoat becomes noticeably thinner. So all you need to do is brush him periodically.

An ending note

I hope youll agree with me when I say that the Husky was bred to adapt to all environments. Their amazing and mesmerizing double coat helps them stay safe and protected no matter the living situation they find themselves in.

So you should never make your Husky vulnerable to all the above-mentioned problems by shaving him. Do not shave your husky!

If you want to help him cool off, groom him often (use a good brush, designed for double coats), exercise him in a forest or place full of shade if you have one nearby, and serve him some tasty iced treats. He will love them!

Can I Shave My Husky? Heres Why You Shouldnt!

Is your Huskys shedding driving you insane? Can I shave my Husky? Before you reach for the clipper, let me stop you there. Shaving is never the best solution to shedding. In fact, it will only lead to more problems due to the damaging effects of shaving. In this post, I will discuss why you should never consider shaving your Husky and what you can do instead.

Can I shave my Husky?

You can ask any legitimate groomer, and they will agree on one thing: you should never shave your Husky. While shaving is an instant solution to shedding, it will cause more problems than benefits in the long run. Worse, your dog will bear all the brunt.

If youre a first-time Husky owner and wondering why you cant shave your Husky, here are some of the reasons why:

= Youll mess with your dogs natural temperature regulation.

A Huskys double coat allows them to self-regulate their body temperature. So when you shave them, youre literally removing their capability to do this important bodily process.

To further understand the role of a Huskys coat in thermos-regulation, let us dissect its coat layers.

• Topcoat. These are long and thick hairs that you can see from the outside. During summer, the topcoat deflects sunlight to keep your Husky cool. Meanwhile, the undercoat is thinner as a result of the coat-blowing phase before the change of season. This coat profile prevents your Husky from overeating since the thinner undercoat allows body heat to dissipate.
• Undercoat. This is composed of shorter but softer hair underneath the topcoat. It has a water-resistant characteristic, which protects the skin from chemicals and trapped moisture. During winter, the undercoat thickens and acts as your Huskys jacket to prevent hypothermia and frostbite.

When you shave Husky, youre removing both the topcoat and undercoat. As a result, your dog will be a sitting duck against extreme temperatures, which can lead to a slew of health problems.

On the same note, these changes in a Huskys topcoat and undercoat are the reasons for coat-blowing or heavy shedding. This is why you should never attempt to stop your Husky from shedding.

= Your dogs coat will not grow back properly.

Aside from ruining your Huskys thermoregulation, shaving them will also affect the natural hairs growth of their fur. Many Siberian Huskies that have been shaved by their owners suffered from permanent healthy coat damage.

Moreover, the layers of fur didnt grow back to normal and has caused life-long suffering to the canine. Also, the fur will grow back to varying rates, which will make proper thermo-regulation impossible.

Aside from that, older Huskies that have been shaved will sustain patchy coats. In the long run, the damaged coat will result in severe matting, which is painful for canines. It only goes downhill from there as groomers may need to re-shave the extremely matted areas.

Even if the Huskys healthy coat grows back, it will take a long time for it to fully recover.

= It will increase your Huskys risk of skin problems.

Can you imagine running outdoors naked? Insects and outdoor elements will expose your skin to potential infections. This is the same case if you shave your Husky.

A dogs coat serves as protection against harsh outdoor elements. Its topcoat is excellent in repelling dust and debris, while its undercoat is a shield against moisture and chemicals. Without it, all the irritants will go straight into your Huskys skin.

Aside from that, a dogs skin is sensitive to UV rays. With that, a shaved Husky has a higher risk of developing skin cancer if you keep on removing its coat.

Insect bites, allergens, parasites, and more will easily feast on your Huskys skin. This will lead to irritating bites and a slew of skin problems that youll have to address later.

Remember that Siberian Huskies are prone to dermatitis. Their skin can easily dry and experience crusting if its exposed to harmful irritants for long periods.

= Shaving will not help to shed.

Many inexperienced Husky owners get overwhelmed by shedding to the point that they consider shaving as the solution. At first, this will greatly help in eliminating coat blowing. However, as the Huskys coat grows back, shedding resumes. In this case, shaving doesnt help, and your dog will only suffer from coat damages.

= Your dog will land at the vets clinic.

In the end, shaving your Husky will only end up to vet visits. This is both stressful for the dog and hard on your pocket. So instead of shaving, you should explore other ways to manage your Huskys coat.

And if youre an aspiring Husky owner, you must ensure that youre willing to go through the hassle of shedding. If not, youre better of getting a non-shedding dog breed like Shih Tzus, Maltese, Bichon Frise, or Poodle.

Exemptions when you can shave your Husky

As much as shaving a Husky is highly discouraged, there are two exempted conditions. Heres my personal experience with my Husky:

• Serious medical reasons. Veterinarians will shave Huskies that need to undergo surgery or treatments on the skin. Still, shaving will only be done to the affected part and not the dogs entire body. The veterinarian will also try to limit shaving as much as possible.
• Severe matting. Another case in which a Husky will be shaved is if it has severe matting. But like with surgical procedures, shaving will only be done to spots with mats. Professional groomers will not shave a Husky clean. Instead, they will remove the mats and blend the shaved parts with minor trimming.

Take note that these are often the last resort. It doesnt erase the fact that shaving a Husky is a no-no.

Alternatives to shaving your Husky

Remember that shaving is never the answer to your Huskys shedding. If you want to manage the dogs coat, its best to do the following:

= Give the dog a trim

If its the summer season, you can give your Husky a trim to help reduce its shedding. However, you should only aim to reduce the bulk of its coat and not thin it too much. In the end, your dog has its natural shedding process to take care of shedding the majority of its coat.

Here are some reminders to keep in mind when trimming a Huskys coat:

• Keep the dog calm first. A nervous Husky and a sharp pair of scissors can be a disastrous combination. This is why you should calm your dog first before you try to give it a trim. You can try giving calming treats or aids prescribed by the vet.
• Use the right tool. You can always use a regular pair of scissors for a calm and well-mannered Husky. But when it comes to the most dramatic dogs, I recommend shears with curved tips. This is safer to use on fidgety dogs, and the blade is angled on the natural curve of your dogs body.
• Snip only a small amount. Like what I said, you should only trim, not entirely cut, your Huskys coat. Again, your goal is only to remove a small amount of fur, so your doggo will look clean and well-groomed.

= Daily brushing

Aside from trimming, its extremely crucial to give your Husky a daily brush, regardless if its coat blowing or not. Brushing will help remove loose hairs fur so it wont spread in your home. Also, it will prevent matting while stimulating the natural sebum production of the canines skin.

When brushing a Husky, here are some hacks to know:

• Get the right tools. For Huskies, you need two basic tools: a deshedding brush and an everyday brush (slicker or pin brush). During the coat blowing season, the deshedding will let you remove a loose hairs undercoat to prevent matting and tangles. And on regular days, a slicker or pin brush will do to keep your Huskys coat clean.
• Brush in the right direction. Remember that you should brush on the direction in which your Huskys coat is growing. Brushing in the opposite direction will pull the dogs coat and cause further tangles.
• Choose the right location. Huskies are monster shedders, so you should brush them on a spot you dont mind being filled with loose fur. I suggest doing it outdoors or in the bathroom for faster cleanup.
• Take it easy. It can be frustrating to groom a Husky, but you shouldnt apply too much force on brushing. Keep it light but firm to prevent hurting your dog. Also, you should only do brushing for a maximum of 15 minutes to avoid over-brushing.
• Brush before bathing. If youre bathing your Husky, you should give it a good brush first to remove the tangles. This way, the current tangles wont become mats once its soaked. It will also allow you to remove as much loose fur as possible.

= Professional grooming

If you dont trust your grooming skills, its best to bring your Husky to a professional groomer. The groomer knows what to do with your Huskys coat to reduce shedding and remove matting.

Personally, even if I groom my Husky at home, I still bring him to a professional groomer quarterly. This way, the groomer can catch up on whatever I missed. It saves my dog from irritations and discomfort.

= Healthy diet

Lastly, you should invest in your dogs diet. A Husky that eats low-quality food will shed more dead hair and potentially suffer from bald spots.

I highly recommend a diet rich in Omega fatty acids, Vitamin E, and whole protein. All of these contribute to a healthy coat and a more manageable shedding.

When in doubt, you can consult your dogs veterinarian for the best food choice to buy. This is crucial as Huskies can be fussy eaters, not to mention that they have a fair share of allergies.

People Also Ask

Do dogs like being shaved?

While shaving will instantly cool down a dog, it will only cause worse results later on. Dogs dont know whats best for them, so you should be the one, as the pet owner, to decide. Shaving a Husky is not a smart move. In the end, youll face more problems, which will cause massive vet bills.

Do dogs get cold after being shaved?

A Huskys coat serves as the insulation to its body. If you shave it, youre literally removing the canines shield against the cold weather. The doggo will get cold and be prone to various health problems, including skin irritations.

Do dogs get embarrassed when they get shaved?

Dogs have feelings, but its still not established whether canines can feel complex emotions like embarrassment and shame. To this day, theres no way of knowing whether your Husky is embarrassed by its awful haircut or he just hates you for taking him to the groomer.

Do groomers shave Huskies?

Professional and experienced groomers know that its not ideal to shave a Husky. Most of the time, groomers will give Huskies a trim and brush their shedding fur. If there are severe mats, thats the only time they will use a shaving clipper. Still, the shaving is isolated to the matted area and will not be done on the canines entire body.

Does a matted dog have to be shaved?

Only the matting must be shaved out and not the entirety of your dogs coat. This matting often occurs behind the ears, under the legs, and fur on the skinfolds of your pet. Its also the reason why you have to brush your dog daily.

Is it better to shave a dog wet or dry?

Technically, its not good to shave a dog. But on instances that you have to remove mats on isolated spots, its best to do it on a bone-dry dog coat. It will prevent snags and allow the clip to glide smoothly into the fur.

Final words

Can I shave my Siberian Husky? The answer is no. Shaving a double-coated breeds dog like Huskies is never a good idea since it will damage its coat and cause serious irritations. If you want to manage your dogs shedding, youll never go wrong with the help of a professional groomer. You should also observe proper regular grooming at home to keep your Husky neat without the need for shaving.